Amex Platinum Card vs. The Ritz-Carlton Card [Detailed Comparison]

Key Takeaways

• The Platinum Card^® from American Express is open to new applicants. You can only obtain the Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card after having an eligible Chase-issued, Marriott-branded card for 12 months or more and contacting Chase to request a product change.
• The Amex Platinum card is a premium travel rewards card that focuses on general travel earning, redemptions, and benefits. In contrast, the Ritz-Carlton card focuses more on Marriott-centric earning, redemptions, and benefits.
• Both cards include travel protections and benefits, but the Amex Platinum card has the edge with multiple statement credits for select purchases.

As a frequent traveler, you want a card that offers benefits tailored to your travel preferences. Benefits that make your trip more comfortable, provide savings for travel-related purchases, and have redemption options that deliver value may be at the top of the list.

The Amex Platinum card and the Ritz-Carlton card are 2 popular cards that fit this description. And, while the cards differ greatly in attributes, there are strong reasons travelers would select one card over the other.

We’ll share some of those reasons and why some travelers may even want to consider having both cards.

Card Overview

The Amex Platinum card and the Ritz-Carlton card include numerous features and benefits.

It can be helpful to get an overall idea of how the cards compare with a quick side-by-side comparison. Here’s a summary of the key benefits of our featured cards:

Welcome Offer Comparison

The Amex Platinum card features a generous welcome offer, enabling you to earn a large number of rewards in a short period by meeting the minimum spending requirements.

The Ritz-Carlton card does not have a welcome offer, as the card is not available to new applicants. You must first have a Chase-issued Marriott-branded card for at least 12 months before requesting a product change to the card. Examples of eligible cards include the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card.

Here are the current snapshots for our 2 featured cards, including the most recent welcome offer and card information:

+ NEW BENEFITS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than the Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Ritz-Carlton card comes loaded with perks and benefits that any Marriott loyalist is sure to love.

The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card

The Ritz-Carlton card comes loaded with perks and benefits that any Marriott loyalist is sure to love.

Annual Fee

$450

Why We Like This Card

The Ritz-Carlton card is a valuable card to have in your wallet if you frequently stay at Marriott properties and want perks like Marriott elite status, airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points on Marriott stays
• 3x points on dining, rental cars, and airfare purchased directly with airlines
• 2x points on all other purchases

Cons

• Charges a large annual fee
• You cannot apply for the card outright, you can only upgrade to it from another Chase-issued Marriott card

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Card Highlights

• No welcome offer available.
• 6x points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• 3x Points for every $1 spent on dining, car rentals and airline purchases.
• 2x Points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Receive 15 Elite Night Credits every calendar year and Automatic Gold Elite status.
• Earn a $300 Annual Travel Credit which you can use for qualifying airline purchases such as baggage fees, seat upgrades, and preferred lounge memberships or passes. To apply travel credit, call 1-855-896-2222 after using your card.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide through your Priority Pass™ Select membership. Access is unlimited regardless of airline or ticket class. Enjoy a place to relax with complimentary refreshments.
• Apply for Global Entry, a U.S. customs and border protection program, using your Ritz-Carlton Credit Card to pay your application fee and receive a statement credit. If approved, you will also be eligible to receive TSA pre ✓^® privileges at no additional cost.
• Use your Ritz-Carlton Credit Card to unlock special car rental benefits. Enroll in leading car rental reward programs from Avis, National, and Silvercar. Book with your Ritz-Carlton Credit Card and take advantage of great savings and special offers.
• Make purchases abroad without being charged foreign transaction fees.

Financial Snapshot

• Foreign Transaction Fees: 

Bottom Line:

The Amex Platinum card has a generous welcome offer that can be earned by meeting minimum spending requirements within the specified period. The Ritz-Carlton card does not have a welcome offer, as it can only be obtained after holding an eligible Chase-issued Marriott-branded card for 12 months or more and contacting Chase to request a product change.

Earning Potential

The Amex Platinum card and the Ritz-Carlton card earn different types of reward currencies. The Amex Platinum card earns flexible Membership Rewards points, while the Ritz-Carlton card earns Marriott Bonvoy points.

We’ll discuss redemption options next, but let’s first look at how you earn rewards on each card:

The best way to earn rewards quickly is to ensure the bonus-earning categories for the card you select align with how you’ll use it.

For example, with the Amex Platinum card, you earn 5x on select travel through AmexTravel.com and airfare booked directly with airlines. With the Ritz-Carlton card, you earn points with Marriott, on flights with airlines, on car rentals, on travel, and on dining.

Earning rewards is just one part of the equation. The real value comes to the surface when it’s time to redeem your rewards.

Bottom Line:

The Amex Platinum card offers limited bonus-earning categories, including flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com, as well as flights purchased directly with an airline. The Ritz-Carlton card earns well with Marriott, as well as flights purchased directly with airlines, car rentals, dining, and 2x points on all other purchases.

Redemptions

A clear benefit of having a travel rewards card is evident at redemption time. The Amex Platinum card and the Ritz-Carlton card each offer several ways to receive elevated value from your rewards.

Here are the options available for each of our featured cards at redemption time:

The Amex Platinum card offers strong options that maximize the value of its Membership Rewards points. We value these points at more than 2 cents each because of this flexibility to transfer to airline and hotel partners to book award flights and hotel nights.

Marriott Bonvoy points you earn on the Ritz-Carlton card, which we value at 0.7 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, can also be transferred to airline partners and used to purchase award flights. Many Marriott Bonvoy airline transfer partners have a 5,000-mile bonus when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This option is not generally the best value for your points, as the transfer ratio is 3:1 Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles, and not all airlines offer the 5,000-mile bonus.

Marriott Bonvoy points generally offer the best value when redeemed for award nights at Marriott properties.

Travel Protections

Travel protections can provide peace of mind during your trip. The travel protections that come with the Amex Platinum card and Ritz-Carlton card can provide economic relief if you experience a covered event while traveling.

Here are the travel protections found on our featured cards:

The Amex Platinum card has the edge on travel protections. Key benefits include emergency evacuation with no specified limit, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, and trip delay coverage after a delay of more than 6 hours. Although the card comes with secondary car rental insurance, you can purchase Premium Protection for a single low price, starting at $12.25, that covers the entire rental period.

The Ritz-Carlton card offers primary rental car coverage, delayed baggage, limited medical and dental coverage, and roadside assistance.

Key Travel Benefits

Travel benefits can save you significant money on select travel purchases and help make your trip more comfortable.

Here are the key travel benefits on the Amex Platinum card and the Ritz-Carlton card:

Worldwide lounge access is a sought-after benefit for frequent travelers, as airport lounge memberships can be expensive. Both of our featured cards offer this benefit, but there are key differences.

Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card includes worldwide lounge access for the cardholder (guest policies vary) to the following lounges:

Both cards offer an airline incidentals annual credit and fee reimbursement for Global Entry (up to $120). The Amex Platinum card allows you to use the credit for TSA PreCheck and offers an additional up-to-$209 annual credit for CLEAR Plus membership. The Amex Platinum card includes another benefit of up to $200 in annual Uber Cash ($15 per month plus an additional $20 in December) when you add your Amex Platinum card to your account. You can use Uber Cash for U.S. rides or Uber Eats in the U.S., and you must pay for your transaction with an Amex card to use this benefit.

Ritz-Carlton Card

Like the Amex Platinum card, the Ritz-Carlton card offers a Priority Pass Select membership with worldwide lounge access, including the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. One key difference is that through January 14, 2026, the Ritz-Carlton card does not limit guests to 2 per cardholder. Also, authorized users get the same level of lounge access, with no limit on the number of guests. There is no additional charge to add authorized users to the card.

Hot Tip:

The lounge access policy for the Ritz-Carlton card changes on January 15, 2026. Ritz-Carlton cardmembers and authorized users will be allowed to enter Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and participating Priority Pass lounges with up to 2 guests at no additional charge. Additional guests will be charged $27 per person.

Hotel Program Benefits

Frequent and occasional travelers should appreciate the hotel program benefits on the Amex Platinum card and the Ritz-Carlton card.

Whether you use the included card benefits of elite status or on-site property benefits, both of our featured cards offer perks that can make your stay more comfortable.

Both of our featured cards come with hotel program elite status. For Marriott loyalists, the Ritz-Carlton card may be a better choice, offering the option to spend on the card to earn higher status and 15 elite night credits each year. The card also comes with a free award night worth up to 85,000 points.

For those who prefer a level of elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, but also want discounted luxury hotel nights, the prepaid hotel credit, up to $600 each year, for eligible stays at Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection (a 2-night stay is required for the latter), can be a valuable benefit. Stays must be booked through AmexTravel.com, and the credit is available for up to $300 in each half of the year.

In addition to the hotel credit on the Amex Platinum card, on-site benefits at Fine Hotels + Resorts include room upgrades, daily breakfast for 2, early check-in and late checkout (when available), Wi-Fi, and a unique property amenity worth a minimum of $100. On-site benefits at The Hotel Collection (2-night stay or longer) include a room upgrade when available, up to a $100 hotel credit on qualifying charges, noon check-in when available, and late checkout when available.

Bottom Line:

The Amex Platinum card comes with elite status with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and Leaders Club (enrollment required). The card also offers up to $600 in prepaid hotel credits annually. The Ritz-Carlton card is Marriott-centric and offers Gold Elite status with 15 elite night credits toward higher status, a free award night certificate each year, and on-site Marriott property benefits.

Shopping Protections and Benefits

Shopping protections can help reimburse you if an eligible item purchased with your card is damaged or stolen. Shopping benefits can save you money on specific purchases.

Here are the key shopping benefits and protections found on the Amex Platinum card and the Ritz-Carlton card:

While the Amex Platinum card and the Ritz-Carlton card offer key shopping protections for eligible items, the Amex Platinum card is the true winner for economic benefits when it comes to several purchases.

With the shopping benefits potentially worth more than $1,000, the card could deliver value beyond the annual fee.

Annual Fee and Authorized Users

The best rewards-earning cards come with associated fees. It’s essential to be aware of any related fees for the cards you select to determine the value you’ll receive.

The Amex Platinum card has an annual fee of $895 and has an annual fee for Additional Platinum Cards of $195.

The Ritz-Carlton card has an annual fee of $450 and does not charge a yearly fee to add authorized users.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card is a premium travel rewards card that has flexible redemption options, travel insurance benefits, and a long list of available statement credits for specific purchases. One of its premier benefits is its worldwide lounge access, which alone can be worth the high annual fee.

The Ritz-Carlton card is better suited for the Marriott loyalist who currently has a Chase-issued Marriott Bonvoy card and wishes to upgrade their experience. The card can be an especially valuable asset to families who want to enjoy lounge access during their travels.

If you have the opportunity to upgrade to the Ritz-Carlton card and can take advantage of the expanded benefits, it could be a good choice. However, if you’re a frequent traveler, don’t rule out the possibility of having both cards in your rewards card portfolio.

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For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, the maximum benefit amount for trip cancellation and interruption insurance is $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each covered person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the premium global assist hotline benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by premium global assist hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express^® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.